Chapter 38: Crisis Outside the City

The scholar’s clothing had long since become a tattered mess from their travels over mountains and through forests. When Lu Xin first entered the city, he couldn’t bear the sight and even offered to buy him a proper set of clothes; after all, such ragged attire was bound to attract attention. Strangely enough, the scholar—usually greedy and lecherous—refused without hesitation. Now, as he watched the scholar slowly tear open a patch in his robe, Lu Xin finally understood why this man had acted so out of character back then.

From a hidden seam in his garment, the scholar drew out a small piece of silver. It wasn’t much, but it would have been worth five or six hundred cash. At that moment, both Lu Xin and Yue Buhei’s expressions darkened, their eyes filled with contempt for the scholar.

Half a tael of silver—in the Tang dynasty’s third year of Zhen Guan—was enough to let a man live comfortably for several months. Even if the scholar hadn’t shamelessly scrounged food and drink, he would have had more than enough travel funds to reach Chang’an.

“Waiter, I’ll pay for this table and the ladies’ drinks as well,” the scholar announced, emboldened by his new wealth, waving the server over. The two Miao sisters exchanged glances, their faces shifting subtly, but said nothing more. Yue Buhei, seeing the lecherous grin on the scholar’s face, seized the opportunity to bang the table and curse.

“You filthy, lecherous scholar! You’ve been pretending to be poor this whole time—aren’t you afraid of divine retribution?”

“What do you know, you beast? This is called being frugal and diligent—it’s the way of Confucius and Mencius. Besides, I’m buying drinks for these two young ladies to bring honor to us northerners. It’s all in the name of righteousness!”

The scholar’s skin was thicker than an old ox’s—he could turn any words into flowery nonsense. Unable to out-argue him, Yue Buhei had the quick wit to call for two more jugs of wine, insisting the scholar pay for them. Naturally, Lu Xin sided with Yue Buhei. The scholar had no choice but to hand over the money with a sour face, his hands trembling with heartache. Yet, in front of the two girls, he had to keep up appearances and feign generosity.

“Sister, we’ve eaten and drunk enough; it’s getting late. Let’s return to our rooms and rest. Tomorrow, we still have to seek out the Yin-Yang Steward,” said one of the sisters.

“Yes, I’m tired too. Thank you for the wine, sir. If fate allows, we shall meet again. Hehehe…” With that, the Miao sisters rose and left, their laughter tinkling behind them. The scholar watched their retreating figures in a daze, so lascivious he seemed about to drool. Yue Buhei seized the chance for another round of mockery, berating the scholar for his lustful stupidity.

“Worth every coin—you got cursed by two lovely girls and managed a free meal. If you like, I’ll come to your room tonight and transform into their likeness for you.”

“Get lost, you damned fox! One day, someone will eat you up! What would a fox know about such things? ‘The gentle maiden, a fitting match for the gentleman.’ I’ve heard much of the beauties from Miaojiang, and now that I’ve met them, they’re truly pure as jade and unparalleled in grace. Such women are the ones I, Tu, have dreamed of day and night.”

…

It wasn’t until the moon was high that the three finally left the wine table and retired to their rooms. Lu Xin, utterly exhausted, for the first time went to bed without practicing his sword work. He slept soundly till midday the next day.

After a casual meal at the inn, it was already late in the afternoon. Lu Xin decided to leave the city immediately, but as they approached the gate, they saw a large contingent of officials checking every traveler. Not only were there officers from the Governor’s Office, but also disciples from the Supreme Heavenly Sect.

“It seems the murder case outside Xuanzhou is starting to yield clues. Let’s leave by the north gate and avoid the Supreme Heavenly Sect’s people,” Yue Buhei suggested, still wary after almost having his disguise seen through by Huang Yu the previous day. Lu Xin had no objections; if this was about the ruined temple, even though he hadn’t committed the murder himself, he would be implicated if investigated.

“Xin, could they be investigating the temple case? It involves the Divine Temple, and so many soldiers died—if we’re found to be involved, will we ever get out of this city?”

“One step at a time. Let’s hope it’s not related to the ruined temple,” Lu Xin replied grimly. Though he hadn’t killed anyone, he’d been involved in the fight—escaping blame would be difficult. Worse still, the Yin-Yang Master from the Divine Temple had escaped. If the man accused them, no explanation would clear their names.

When they reached the north gate, they found it heavily guarded as well. Even more alarming, there were people from the Divine Temple present. Lu Xin frowned, now certain that the case being pursued by the Governor’s Office, the Supreme Heavenly Sect, and the Divine Temple was the very murder at the ruined temple.

“Wandering Immortal Sword, Wandering Immortal Sword—you’ve brought me nothing but trouble,” Lu Xin thought ruefully. If not for the sword suddenly flying off with him that day, none of this would have happened. For the first time, he felt as if his destiny was tethered to the sword he carried.

“Now that the Divine Temple is here, what should we do? Xin, I never laid a hand on anyone—certainly didn’t kill anyone!”

“Try telling them that—see if they believe you.”

“Whether they believe it or not, we can’t turn ourselves in. Back when I was in Yin County, I saw it all—the officials will beat you within an inch of your life and then pin some trumped-up charge on you. These bastards are as ruthless as they come.”

The three paced nervously around the streets near the north gate, neither daring to leave nor to linger in Xuanzhou much longer. Caught between a rock and a hard place, it was Yue Buhei who finally came up with a plan that made them pause.

“I overheard those two Miao girls yesterday—they’re looking for the Yin-Yang Steward, probably to obtain a token from the Yin-Yang Marshal’s Office. I can’t see through their cultivation, but I’m ninety percent sure they’re not ordinary women but Yin-Yang Masters themselves.”

“A token? How does that help us leave Xuanzhou?”

“The Yin-Yang Marshal’s Office is authorized to grant ranks to independent Yin-Yang Masters, and their token is proof of this. The five great sects all recognize it, and even the court turns a blind eye. With a token, one can easily join any of the five great sects or even take office at the Divine Temple.”

“Idiot, they’re hunting Yin-Yang Masters! You want to walk right into their hands?” the scholar snapped. Lu Xin, too, was baffled—why seek out the Yin-Yang Marshal’s Office for a test and a token right when they were searching for such people? Wasn’t that courting disaster? Besides, he himself had no magical power.

“Listen to me. The token is extraordinary—it’s proof of being a self-taught, unaffiliated cultivator. Think about it: to have cultivated magical power without sect or master shows incredible talent. Such people are highly sought after—every sect wants them. With a token, even the Supreme Heavenly Sect would give some deference.”

“Still nonsense. I, Tu, have no cultivation—how would I obtain such a token? And did you see the look on that man’s face yesterday? You think he’d give you any respect? Xin, we shouldn’t listen to this fox’s schemes. It’s our lives at stake—we must be cautious.”

“No, perhaps the fox is right. The Supreme Heavenly Sect is recruiting disciples here in Xuanzhou. If we play to their interests, maybe we can avoid interrogation. Besides, those girls seemed quite taken with the fox. If the fox can charm them, we’ll have a good chance to leave. Yes, that’s what we’ll do. Fox, you have magical power—find a way to get the token.”

Lu Xin’s eyes lit up—he’d finally found a feasible way out. But Yue Buhei only shook his head.

“I’m a demon. If I use magic before the stewards, they’ll see through my disguise. We’ll have to use cunning,” Yue Buhei said, tapping the scholar’s head and glancing down the street. “Once the two girls have their tokens, we’ll simply take one from them. Then we can leave.”

“Damn you, you shameless fox, plotting against two innocent girls. No—that’s beneath me. A gentleman has his virtue—I won’t stoop to such petty thievery.”

“Fine, then find your own way out. Xin, let’s go.”

“I think it’s just borrowing for a moment—it’s a sound plan. The scholar bought them dinner yesterday; if they help us leave today, that’s just karma.”

With that, Lu Xin and Yue Buhei strode off. The scholar, seeing his opinion disregarded, hurried after them, his face changing.

“Hehehe, what’s virtue worth compared to survival? Xin, I know them well—I’ll do it. Borrow, not steal. It’s a small matter, really…”

“Oh? Aren’t you planning to be a scholar? So, even a prospective top scholar resorts to theft?”

“Fox, what am I to do with you? As the saying goes, ‘When a man dies, his lamp goes out.’ What’s the point of being a top scholar if you’re dead? When it comes to life and death, I—Tu—know where my priorities lie.”

…

Having made up their minds, they returned to the inn, only to find that the Miao sisters had already checked out and vanished. Yue Buhei had no idea where the Yin-Yang Stewards might be found in Xuanzhou, so the three of them had no choice but to search everywhere.

As evening approached, two more groups of strangers arrived in Xuanzhou—Yue Buhei guessed they were likely Yin-Yang Masters as well, though their intentions were unclear.

Soon, the city was teeming with all sorts of people, as if something momentous was about to happen. Unable to leave the city, and with night closing in, the three decided to stay another night at the inn, hoping to catch the Miao sisters if they returned.

Just before the end of the evening hour, the two Miao girls indeed reappeared. Overjoyed, the trio quickly booked rooms next to theirs. They waited until well into the night before deciding to make their move.

Yue Buhei, adept at transformation, disguised himself as a waiter and knocked on their door, only to find it open—and, more strangely, the room completely empty. As the three exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of what to do next, a low, thunderous march echoed from below the inn. The footsteps were heavy and many—Lu Xin rushed to the window, looked down, and his face changed dramatically, his entire body frozen in shock.